Universitas Gadjah Mada took part in the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) in Boston, U.S., from 11-14 February 2016. Four students representing UGM in the event were Nela Navida (Economics 2013), Muhammad Hafiz Noer (Politics and Government Studies 2014), Edward Giordan (Tourism 2014), and Dipo Bijak Muhammad (Law 2014). They had the chance to carry out negotiation and diplomacy skills in that event.
Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) is a simulation of UN sessions to train students in lobbying, negotiation, and diplomacy skills such as those carried out in a real UN session. It involves over 3,000 university students coming from 70 states.
Nela said in the HNMUN delegates did simulations that were divided into several committees. She joined the World Conference on Women council, Muhammad Hafiz and Dipo Bijak Disarmement and International Security Committee council, while Edward Giordan Socio Humanitarian and Cultural council.
“In the HNMUN delegates from each country participate in a simulation of international negotiation and diplomacy like the one done in a real UN session. I joined the committee on sexual and reproductive health, representing Macedonia,” she said on Monday (29/2) at Faculty of Economics and Business UGM.
Previously, Nela and fellow students had to go through a rigorous selection at university level. Firstly, they went to the UGM MUN Club competing with 100 UGM students from various faculties. After being selected to university level, they had to submit documents and produce essays, and they passed the selection.
During the HNMUN, there was also Social Venture Challenge (SVC) that opened opportunities for young generation to present their ideas or innovation on social projects designed by each delegates. The project was expected to give social impact on society in the future.
For the SVC Nela submitted a project entitled Sago-chips House Production for Mama in Supiori, Papua, Indonesia that was able to go to big nine. The project aims at empowering women for increasing prosperity of people of Supiori, Papua. “That project is a Student Community Service project that I have done with other UGM students in Supiori in the middle of 2015,” she explained.
Nela said she learned more knowledge during the negotiation and diplomacy sessions in the HNMUN as well as expanding networks.
“We highly appreciated UGM and PT. Angkasa Pura II and all that have supported us so we could participate in the HNMUN. I hope our participation can inspire and motivate other students to keep playing a role in various activities and make the university proud,” she concluded.